A cat is just as important in a move as your furniture, and keeping him from running away is as much a struggle as reaching there in the first place. Follow the steps below to keep your cat from running away.

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Steps

1

Before you move, make sure your cat is in a carrier where he can't escape. Don't let them out until you have reached your destination; (if traveling long distances, wait until you've reached your Motel/Hotel) before letting your cat out or let your cats wander around an enclosed area.

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2

Once you reach your new home, set up a quiet room away from anything that might stress your cat like dogs and other pets. Place your cat in the room with food, water, litterbox, toys and a cat bed or a comfortable towel or blanket. Leave them alone while you bring all the furniture and boxes in and unpack.

3

Once the house is somewhat settled, allow your cat to explore inside their new home. Let your cat get used to sniffing the new area of the house.

4

Do not let the cat outdoors unsupervised for a few weeks or they may try to return to your last house. When the time comes for going out, take some of the cat's bedding or litter and spread it around outside, near the garden, around the backyard, just make sure you put it out there. If the cat or cats get lost, they will smell the litter and know it is theirs. Other cats will know this is their turf as well.

5

When he or she is ready to go out, you can either place them on a cat leash and harness or walk with them to the area where you sprinkled their litter and let them smell it; so that they'll know that the house is their new home. Also make sure your cat stays in your house for at least a week so it can get comfortable.

6

After at least a week, your cat should be getting used to the move. Still make sure to keep an eye on them though.

Buttering Your Cat's Paws

1

Keep your cat in a room with easy-to-clean floors. Tile, linoleum, or even certain types of wood floors will suffer much less than a carpet.

Be sure to include a comfortable place for your cat to sit. A towel is fine—just make sure that it doesn't smell too much like your old house.

2

Coat your cat's paws with butter. On your first evening in your new home, put butter on your cat's paws. The more you can put on the better—it's important to make sure the the butter gets between the cat's toes and up around their ankles.

Throughout the night, the cat will lick all traces of the butter from their feet. In doing, so they will also rid themselves of the smell of their old home. After that the only scent will be of their new home.

3

Keep your cat inside for at least a week. Allow them to explore the new house, as well as see that you are still around them, allowing them to settle in before you unleash them into a brand new neighborhood, and decreasing the chance that hey will try to find your old home.

Allowing your cat to view the outside world from a window ledge will also help them to become visually aware of their surroundings before they even step outside.

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Tips

Provide Details.

Please be as detailed as possible in your explanation. Don't worry about formatting! We'll take care of it.
For example:Don't say: Eat more fats.Do say: Add fats with some nutritional value to the foods you already eat. Try olive oil, butter, avocado, and mayonnaise.

Tips

Declawed cats should be kept indoors only! They cannot climb or defend themselves without their claws.

Don't be frustrated at the cat if it doesn't adjust as quickly as you'd like it to.

Your cat should have a collar with contact details on it.

Cats are active at night! Remember that if you are considering locking the cat-flap at night

An old wives tale that seems to work is when you want a cat to know that it is in its new home and that it's safe, is to put a little butter on one of their paws. They will lick it off and be more settled and clean themselves.

An indoor cat is safer, especially if you live in a busy area with lots of traffic

Cream Cheese also works instead of butter.

Put the butter on the cat's paws right before letting it go outside for the first time. It will pick up soil from around your new home and ingest it as it is cleaning itself. This may help to imprint the new place as home.

Build or purchase an outdoor cat enclosure so that your cat cannot run away.

If your cat stays hidden because he's scared, leave him alone and he will come out eventually.

If you keep your cat in a cage for the trip, make sure it is big so your cat can stretch, and make sure it is comfy. Your cat wouldn't like to be squished in a cold cage.

Don't butter the paws of a dairy intolerant cat!

Warnings

Also be aware of the risks and dangers in your area: busy roads, coyotes, wolves, next door's dog etc.

Be aware of neighbor cats and strays that might have rabies or other diseases. Make sure your cats are up to date on all shots, in particular FIV.

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